The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-07-14

and more than one group was gather.
ed til various corners, talking over
the, latest bulletins: Fort Sumter
had been attacked. The war had
begun.
kilograms were constantly being
delivered, for fathers and brothers
had enlisted, and daughters and SIS
tiers tiers % GSa Ira. SrsXXely bid them farewell
Hazel had BEEN the first to 20, for
popular sentiment turned against her
as rebel, and she gladly went to selp
her father, who was mastering forces
and drlllingrecruits. Camp life suited
him; in the field he seemed in his ele-
ment. and the prudent farmer became
q brilliant officer. Always foremost
in the fight, he won respect even from.
his enemies, who, while they admired
his fearlessness and energy, congratu-
lated themselves that there were very
few confederate generals like him.
1t was in one of the fie-cest struggles
OF the civil war that he fell, fighting
brevely. killed by one we'll aimed
charge. When his body was brought
home, Hazel received the sorrowinp
soldiers without a tear, and when
some one roughly accused her of
heartlessness, she answered, with the
spirit of q true soldiers daughter:
If papa had died ignobly 1 should
weep tor the disgrace, but they tell me
he fell fighting, honored even by those
who struck him down: shall mourn
for my father, but he would have me
give up my soldier as bravely as he
gave his life.'
The weary months crept on. Wait.
ing safely, far from the struggle, with
her aunt in the north, was out of the
question, and Hazel begged so hard to
be allowed to follow her own inclina-
tions, that permission was granted,
and she Joined the little band of help.
full women who was going to nurse the
poor fellows dying for want of proper
care:
In the hospital the dark eyed, pale
faced nurse soon became popular; for
shs was as strong as she was tender;
always willing to undergo all the hard.
ships for the sake of the suffering SOL
diers.
She often found friends of her faith.
er among the wounded. and her eyes
grew bright as she listened to the
stories his admirers told of his manly
courage and tender sympathy.
One day she was looking over the
list of "killed and Wounded" in the
mornings paper, and saw the name
of Major Robert D. Stevena among
the others.
Al she read there came a flood OF
old time recollections, memories half.
forgotten, and then a vague wonder
stole into her heart. Did her old
playmate remember her with the same
tender longing?
She thought ofhis call at the school.
She had dressed herself with care to
receive him, but she had seemed cold
and distant, and he had gone away.
She had only heard 1umors of him
since. He had begun the study OF
medicine, and had gone into the Office
Of @ celebrated old doctor in north
erh state, and during the war had gain.
edhonors in the Federal army, and now
she doubted not that he had forgot
ten her, as she had tried to put him
ont of her mind. Her heart ached
with an unaccustomed pain, and as
she went about her daily duties her
patients missed her attentive SYM
pathy, for though she performed all
her tasks, she was preoccupied, busy
with her own thoughts.
Toward noon the doctor called her
q H. boS 60
you. He will need constant care, for
he is In a fever, and it will take good
nursing to bring him round" And
leading the way to his own private
Office he added, GIVE got him in here.
for the present. He was pupil Of
mine. aud feel q great interest in
him."
The man turned restlessly on his
rough couch; his hagard face was
turned to the wall, the blue eyes
glanced vacantly about the room, and
the tawny hair was pushed back from
the hot forhead; one arm lay useless,
and as he moved little low moan es-
capped his tightly closed lips. at is
Major Stevens" said the Doctor.
"He's in a bad way, isn't he? Good
fellow! Well bring him round, If pos
sible." Tears came to HazelPs eyes
as she answered fervently, "Please
God, we will!''
Through the days of hopeless watt
ing and the nj GIFTS of suspense Hazel
was constant and faithful, always
ready with a cheerful word or smile in
the rare intervals of consciousness,
working or watching when death
seemed near, and hoping for, yet dread
ing, the time when Rob should recog.
nize her. Admitting his brave endur-
ance of the pain that it is harder ia
bear than danger In the midst of OK
element, and reviewing her girlish re,
gard for her boy friend, she had come
to love the honored major with ten.
der affection, that grew daily, and oc.
casionally frightened her with its
depth.
At length the old doctor joyiully
gave glimmer OF hope; then again
came the dull despair, and long
fierce struggle between death and life.
AS the first light of dawn showed in
the sky, DR.. Holmes turned to the
pale girl and said: "He is sleeping.
We can tell nothing till he wakes; so
60 and st,for if he begins to improve
you'll have your hands full, and any
way, you mustn't get ILL.," With a
faint remonstrance Hazel obeyed, and
laid down on couch near the door,
there not to sleep. but to listen in.
tently for every sound.
All was still, save for the quiet, reg.
ular breathing that made her heart
rejoice. and the ticking of the tall
clock. When struggling beam Of
sunlight fell through the window, she
stole quietly into the room, where she
stood by the bedside, anxiously re,
gardins the worn yet peaceful face Of
the sleeper.
Suddenly his eyes flew open, and
looking wonderingly at the two SOBER
faces before him, he held out his hand
to Hazel, saying helplessly, "You have
come to say 'goodby.' Don't be cold,
Hazel; let me leave the world with a
pleasant remembrance" The pleading
tone and look were to much, and she
leaned down and kissed the pale face,